Corporate M&A (Financial Services) Legal Director | 8 PQE | Top 25 L500 Law Firm Are you a corporate lawyer with 8 years PQE who has exposure to clients within financial service sector, looking for a clear-cut pathway to partnership? Progress your legal career in this Top 25 ranked law firm, renowned for providing technical excellence, innovation and a dynamic approach to law. About the Firm This Legal 500 and Chambers-ranked firm has created a strong reputation for delivering high quality outcomes across their domestic and international client base of HNW individuals, multi-national corporations, financial institutions and public authorities. With a full-service expertise across Financial Services, Energy, Real Estate, Technology, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Private Client and many more! They have built an esteemed reputation throughout its 250-year history, putting them in good stead to compete with some of the world's biggest firms. Despite its impressive global footprint, the firm retains a close-knit, collegiate environment, placing genuine emphasis on employee development and wellbeing. With a culture built around their three core values of quality, imagination and impact, you will be part of a supportive, collaborative firm that encourages authenticity, innovation and personal growth. With a strong UK presence and an expanding international reach, the firm continues to attract top legal minds through its commitment to innovation, diversity, and flexible working. It has earned a reputation as an employer of choice, offering its lawyers both challenging work and the space to thrive. This Tier 1-ranked team is a recognised leader in the upper mid-market, delivering over 200 deals each year across more than 40 jurisdictions. With an impressive client base, the team advises leading domestic and international financial institutions on a wide range of significant transactions, including major banks such as Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest. With 7 heavy-hitting partners within the team, you will work closely with experts across Financial Services, M&A and wider corporate matters. This provides exceptional exposure to leading key mandates, developing strong client relationships and helping to further strengthen the team's reputation as a dominant force within the financial services sector. The Role Joining the firm's highly respected and sought out Financial Service M&A team, you'll be leading matters across a variety of corporate transactions including private and public mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, intra-group restructurings, cross-border transactions and a variety of strategic and regulatory driven projects. Develop and build your own client relationships with large domestic and international clearing banks, leading challenger banks, building societies and mutuals, fintechs, asset and wealth managers, exchanges, payments providers, non-bank lenders, brokers and insurers, amongst many others! You will become a key senior figure within this high performing, cohesive and busy team. Contributing to the growth of the practice, alongside working closely with the firms' wider substantial financial services specialist areas. There is genuine continuous development, where you will be encouraged to take on high levels of responsibility and can expect to take a leading role on most matters. Alongside this, you'll have the chance to build and develop your own profile, with a clear pathway to partnership within 12-24 months. You will play a key role in both your own success and the growth of the team, with scope to support and develop junior fee earners, paralegals, and trainees, providing an environment that helps them thrive in the early stages of their careers. What makes this opportunity stand out Clear pathway to partnership within 12-24 months for the right candidate. Become part of a well-established upper mid-market team, acting for leading domestic and international banks, financial institutions, payment providers and many more! Join an award-winning, globally recognised firm praised for outstanding client service and an exceptional, people-focused culture. Benefit from a collegiate, supportive environment with genuine investment in professional development, wellbeing and flexible working. Work on complex, high-value domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and strategic projects within the financial services sector. Requirements Be a qualified solicitor with at least 8 years' PQE, with financial services focussed M&A experience Strategic transactions involving institutional clients is highly desired. Ability to collaborate alongside specialists in other practice areas (within the UK and internationally) and to co-ordinate client initiatives and effectively support transaction delivery. Able to lead complex matters and collaborate across the team to deliver seamless, high-quality advice. Genuinely enthusiastic about business development, with the drive to build client relationships and support practice growth. With increasing demand and significant team growth, there is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in transaction delivery, client relationship development and the continued expansion of the team and practice, which will provide clear career progression opportunities. Apply now for immediate consideration of contact JMC Legal Recruitment for a confidential conversation.